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1988 Map of Chief Butte

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Chief Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The Tortolita Mountains rise along the western edge of this desert landscape, defined by a complex drainage system including Bogard Wash and Durham Wash. In the late 1980s, the area reflects a history of small-scale resource extraction and remote water management. Industrial activity is marked by the Bogard Open Pit Mine in the north and the Big Mine near Parker Canyon, while the presence of a Mine Well and Mine Shaft suggest subsurface prospecting.

Water reliability is a central theme of this arid region, evidenced by numerous improved water sources such as Sampson Well, Lopez Wells, and several earthen tanks like Cadillac Tank and Freeman Tank. These features, along with prominent landmarks like Antelope Peak and Chief Butte, provided essential navigation and sustenance for ranchers and miners working the land before more modern utility corridors like the Power Line were established.